u."

Next day the Grand Vizier gave an account of the plan which he had
devised for discovering what trust was to be placed in the history and
complaints of Halechalbe.

"Those people," said the minister, "who are deranged in their mind,
are never consistent in their accounts. Let your Highness therefore
order the young man to be brought before you; and if he repeats his
long story in the same connection he did yesterday, and without
varying its circumstances, it will then be proper to make the
necessary inquiries for ascertaining the truth of the facts."

The Vizier's opinion was highly approved of, and orders were instantly
given to go for Halechalbe.

When the young man was at the foot of the throne, the Caliph thus
addressed him: "Halechalbe, I have been informed that you have been
confined in a madhouse, by a series of the most extraordinary
adventures: recover your spirits, and be assured that I am anxious to
do justice to all my subjects. But in the relation I demand from you,
omit no circumstance, and consider the respect which is due to truth
and to my presence."

Halechalbe, seeing the prediction of the dervish fulfilled, being
inspired with confidence and affected with his subject, again began
his history, and made not the smallest variations, even in the
expressions.

Giafar was obliged to own that the recital which he had twice heard
bore very striking marks of veracity. His sole object now was to
discover Halechalbe's beloved but cruel enemy, in order to procure
justice from her towards her injured husband; and his sagacity soon
suggested the steps which were proper to be taken.

By calling together all the Cadis in Bagdad, in order to learn by whom
the contract had been drawn up, the affair would be in danger of being
divulged, without resolving the difficulty. For, if any of them had,
contrary to law, drawn up a contract of so extraordinary a nature, he
would not readily confess it; and besides, a man might have been
suborned to act the part.

If Halechalbe's father was reconciled to him, and persuaded again to
entrust his son with the management of his trade, it was probable that
the old woman would be going about him, were it only from curiosity;
and spies, properly placed, might apprehend her, and force her to
disclose the name of her mistress.

The Caliph approved the scheme, and the syndic was immediately sent
for. This unfortunate father, still supposing that his son was totally
derang